First Drive: Campagna T-Rex 14R

Call it the Bungee-Jumping of Motoring...

This Campagna three-wheeler is seriously quick in any gear, especially when hovering above 5000 revs. And it's seriously edgy, especially in first and second. There is a very fine line between grip and grief, and only by careful experimentation can you hope to find that perfect balance between the two. Deviate aggressively from your chosen line at anything over 5000 rpm, and you had better be ready for some tail-happy antics. Because, like the fangy dinosaur it's named after, the T-Rex is not afraid to bite. Even with a huge BF Goodrich 295/35ZR18 rubber on the rear, the tail will go quite easily, and you'd have to be the Drift King to catch it in time. It all comes down to dynamics. When you turn a three-wheeler, it wants to stay turned. And when the rear loses traction, then you have the front and rear dynamics working against your correction efforts. So getting it sideways and holding it there can be a real challenge. Keep it inside its limits, though, and the T-Rex can be the most exciting, most raw fun you'll ever have on more than two wheels.

Then there are the gear changes, which are not subtle at all. They're more like throwing the clutch-plate against a wall and waiting for the next gear to fall into place. If you're a bike rider, then the gear changes will come more naturally. But this driver was not, so it took some getting used to. The perspective from the driver's seat is as close to a F1 car as you can get in a road-going vehicle. Sitting just inches from the road, and with a marginally covered cockpit, every sound is amplified and every driver action more critical than in any car we've ever driven.

At no time can you relax while piloting the T-Rex. Unlike standard sports cars, which envelop their drivers in a cocoon of safety features and equipment, the T-Rex is as raw as they come. There is no power steering, no power brakes, no traction control, no airbags, no audio, and no air-conditioning. But steering is precise, progressive and delivers loads of feedback, as you'd expect scooting along just inches about the tarmac.

All I can say is that it's about time you tested this thing. I've known about it for well over five years and have been surprised that you guys have never tested it before. Simply an amazing piece of machinery. I would love to take one for a spin some day.

For that money, I'd just get an Ariel Atom. Just as fun and raw, but less likely to bite you in the ass or try to kill you. Sure it uses a turbocharged Honda Civic motor, but it's responsive and athletic.I agree with ThisGuy: I was actually wondering how much it was ($20K, at most, I was thinking, like that other 3-wheeled motorbike, the Can-Am Spyder, which starts at $15K but doesn't have a cockpit and has motorocyclic controls rather than passenger cars'), but this much money is more than twice what I'd pay for one, especially without a windshield/screen.

Let's get some facts straight here. Having driven an Atom (in California) AND a T-Rex (in Canada), though neither on the track I can attest that the Atom is an easier car to drive, and the T-Rex is more fun. Motorcycle drivers will be able to drive the Rex better without much practice. Which one you prefer is totally up to you. But just to clear some facts on the Rex. (based on what I know). The T-Rex is extremely easy to drive around the city, or on the highway, it's not harsh either. At 160km/h the thing is incredibly stable. The T-Rex corners very very hard, 1.3g in fact. (The 2009 Atom is 1.08g). The engine IS at the rear of the vehicle. (It's air-fed from a roof mounted intake port.) The rear tire WAS wider, they narrowed it the last year to increase traction in the wet. $70k is the price of the T-Rex EXPORTED to Japan. On North American soil the 14R starts at $49k.Hope this helps.

I was really impressed until I saw the price tag. All the benefits of this has over a regular motorcycle (of similar power) go out the door when you tack on the 40-50k, imo.They should have a windshield option to avoid road hazards without a helmet. Overall, this thing is sharp though!

lots of traction up front and not very much in the rear. this set up really, really sucks. add a fourth wheel and move the engine back behind the driver, where it belongs and then you might have something.or you could, ya know, buy an ariel atom.

TB,That's what I thought they meant bungee-jumping of motoring. You want to skydive but only have the skill to tie a rubber band to your waist. You want to have a motorcycle, but you need a third wheel so you don't fall over. And if you didn't read the article, you need concentration in this thing too with the added fun of being slower and more expensive.

Pretty cool concept behind the 3-wheeled motorcycle, but I think I'd still rather have something with 4 wheels. Its pretty disappointing that anything over 6000 rpm will light up the tires when it has another 5000 rpm worth of power left. They need to either throw a wider/stickier tire on it, or make it a four-wheeled street legal go kart.